For Immediate Release

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Leonard Samiia, 32, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for production of child pornography. Samiia must register as a sex offender.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about February 20, 2023, Samiia employed, used, persuaded, induced, and enticed a minor victim residing within the Southern District of West Virginia to send images of her nude vagina to him through the internet using an instant messaging service. Samiia also sent the images back to the minor victim using the messaging service.

Samiia admitted that he sent a series of messages to the minor victim, directing her to make specific poses and take specific actions for these images. Samiia further admitted that he threatened the minor victim with the images she sent him, including by messaging her “(h)ave fun with these pics being posted now,” “being posted all over Facebook google snapchat twitch and everywhere,” and “THEY WILL BE POSTED ON YOUR SCHOOL WEBSITE TOO.” In one message, Samiia threatened to travel to where the minor victim lived and physically harm her and her family.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Holly Wilson prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-18.